Torenia plant named ‘Sunrenibebu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Torenia  plant named ‘Sunrenibebu’ characterized by its compact and mounding to trailing plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; light violet-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Torenia sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Sunrenibebu’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Torenia,botanically known as Torenia sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name‘Sunrenibebu’.

The new Torenia is a whole plant mutation of a proprietary selection ofTorenia sp. identified as code number TH4, not patented. The new Toreniawas discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single plant in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in March,2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Torenia by vegetative cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan sinceOctober, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Toreniaare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Torenia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunrenibebu’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Sunrenibebu’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofTorenia:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding to trailing plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Long flowering period.    -   5. Light violet-colored flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Torenia differ primarily from plants of the parentselection in flower color as plants of the parent selection have darkerviolet-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Torenia aresmaller than plants of the parent selection.

Plants of the new Torenia can also be compared to plants of Torenia sp.‘Sunrenicopalave’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,001. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plantsof the new Torenia and ‘Sunrenicopalave’ differed in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Torenia were narrower than plants of        ‘Sunrenicopalave’.    -   2. Plants of the new Torenia had shorter internodes than plants        of ‘Sunrenicopalave’.    -   3. Plants of the new Torenia had narrower leaves than plants of        ‘Sunrenicopalave’.    -   4. Plants of the new Torenia had smaller flowers than plants of        ‘Sunrenicopalave’.    -   5. Plants of the new Torenia and ‘Sunrenicopalave’ differed in        flower color as plants of ‘Sunrenicopalave’ had darker-colored        flowers.    -   6. Plants of the new Torenia had shorter peduncles than plants        of ‘Sunrenicopalave’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Torenia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Torenia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunrenibebu’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical flower, flower buds and leaves of ‘Sunrenibebu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, undercommercial practice during the autumn in a polyethylene-coveredgreenhouse with day temperatures averaging 20° C. and night temperaturesaveraging 10° C. Plants had been growing for five months when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Torenia sp. ‘Sunrenibebu’.-   Parentage: Whole plant mutation of a proprietary selection of    Torenia sp. identified as code number TH4, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant roots.—About three to            four weeks at 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous and fleshy; brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/habit.—Compact and mounded to trailing plant            habit; outwardly spreading; vigorous growth habit. Freely            branching habit; pinching enhances branching; about 30            lateral branches develop per plant.        -   Plant height.—About 16.5 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 45.4 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 25.5 cm. Diameter: About            1.6 mm. Internode length: About 2.8 cm. Aspect: Decumbent.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to N144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 144A; venation, close to 145B. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 144B; venation,            close to 145B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single flowers borne in upper leaf axils;            corolla bilabiate and calyx tubular; flowers face obliquely            upright. Freely flowering habit with about 64 open flowers            per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period;            continuously flowering from early summer to late autumn in            Japan. Flowers not persistent.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about four days on            the plant.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Lenticular. Color: Close to N82B.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3 cm by 2.5 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 3.4 cm.        -   Throat diameter.—About 9.3 mm.        -   Tube diameter, base.—About 3.2 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 2.3 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: One upper or banner petal, two            lateral petals and one lower petal in a single whorl, fused.            Upper petal: Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm. Shape:            Elliptic. Apex: Mucronate to truncate. Margin: Entire;            slightly undulating. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: Developing petals, upper            surface: Close to 82C; towards the throat, close to 91D.            Developing petals, lower surface: Close to 82C. Fully            developed petals, upper surface: Close to 85C; towards the            throat, close to 91D. Fully developed petals, lower surface:            Close to 85C. Lateral petals: Length: About 9 mm. Width:            About 1.4 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Truncate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Color: Developing petals, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 82C. Fully developed petals, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 85C. Lower petal: Length: About 1 cm.            Width: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Rounded. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Color: Developing petals, upper surface: Close to            82C; towards the throat, close to 91D. Developing petals,            lower surface: Close to 82C. Fully developed petals, upper            surface: Close to 85C; towards the throat, close to 91D.            Fully developed petals, lower surface: Close to 85C. Throat            color: Close to N82C; lines, close to N79B. Tube color:            Close to N82A to N82B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five fused into two            lobes; margins winged. Calyx length: About 1.6 cm. Calyx            diameter: About 7.8 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            145D; wings, close to 144B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            four; two pairs of fused anthers. Filament length: About 3.1            mm to 12.4 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About            3.3 mm by 0.7 mm. Anther color: Close to 155C. Pollen            amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 11B. Pistils:            Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 2.5 cm.            Stigma shape: Elliptic. Stigma color: Close to 76D. Style            color: Close to 77D. Ovary color: Close to 144A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Torenia.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Torenia have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Torenia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Torenia have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures from about 5° C. to about 30° C.

1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘Sunrenibebu’ as illustratedand described.